Chitranjan Das: A Leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement PDF

# Chittaranjan Das ## A Leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement The book tells the story of Chittaranjan Das, a leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement. He was a lawyer, journalist, litterateur and above all, a true patriot. ## Early Life - Born November 5, 1870, in Calcutta. - His famil...

# Chittaranjan Das ## A Leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement The book tells the story of Chittaranjan Das, a leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement. He was a lawyer, journalist, litterateur and above all, a true patriot. ## Early Life - Born November 5, 1870, in Calcutta. - His family were practitioners of traditional Indian medicine, known for their love of learning and progressive ideas. - His father was a lawyer and journalist. - His mother was large-hearted and hospitable. - Chittaranjan Das inherited the best of both parents: a logical mind, liberal outlook and a deep sense of hospitality. - He had a great love for Bengali literature and was fond of patriotic poems. - He loved to recite these poems. - He entered school at the age of nine. - He did well in English but struggled with mathematics. - He went on to study at Presidency College, where he was influenced by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Rabindranath Tagore. ## Becoming a Lawyer - He showed great skill in oratory, and was elected Secretary of the Students Association. - He was sent to London to qualify for the Indian Civil Service. - Despite doing well in the exam, he was not selected. - Many believe this was due to his growing political activism. - He was passionate about using homemade goods. - In England, he was involved in political activism. - He was known for his outspoken criticism of leaders who made derogatory comments about Indian students abroad. - He was advised by his father to pursue a career in law. - He joined the Honourable Inner Temple and was called to the Bar in 1893. ## A Successful Lawyer - In 1893, he began his career as a lawyer in the Calcutta High Court. - He had to struggle through many difficulties in the early years, as his father was facing financial problems. - Over time, he became very successful, particularly in criminal cases, as well as in civil cases. - He defended many well-known leaders, such as Bepin Chandra Pal and Aravinda Ghose. - He defended Aravinda Ghose in a high-profile case known as the Alipore Bomb Conspiracy. - He took on the case despite being offered no fees at all. - The trial went on for four months, over 200 witnesses were examined, and 4000 exhibits were filed. - His speech at the end of the trial, where he quoted Aravinda Ghose, is considered one of the most inspiring speeches about the struggle for freedom. - Aravinda Ghose was acquitted. - Chittaranjan Das was lauded for his handling of the case and became known as a prominent patriot and lawyer. - In the Alipore Trunk Murder case, Chittaranjan Das defended five young men accused of political crimes. - The case was so unusual that the body of the victim was secretly sent by train in a trunk, and later found decomposing. - After 25 days of hearings, all five young men in the case were acquitted. - He was praised for his skill and perseverance. - Chittaranjan Das gave up his thriving legal career, and dedicated himself to the struggle for Indian Independence. ## A Man of Letters - Chittaranjan Das was a prolific writer and poet. - His first book of poems was called Malancha. - Most of his poems were filled with a deep sense of patriotism and a strong sense of compassion for the poor. - His other books include Mala, Sagar Sangeet, Antaryami, and Kishore Kishori. - These books explored themes of devotion, love, beauty of nature, and the eternal love between Lord Krishna and Radha. - He strongly believed in the power of the written word to impact the minds of people. - He was a founder member and editor of the popular magazine, "Bande Mataram." - He was the editor of the journal, Forward, which was a mouthpiece of the Swaraj Party. - He was committed to providing a national system of education for Indians. - His dream was to set up a national college dedicated to producing true patriots. - The Government of Bengal initially supported this plan, but then issued a circular forbidding student political activism. Students who were caught were fined or whipped. ## A National College - Chittaranjan Das went on to launch a national college despite government interference. - The college would become a symbol of independence and the desire of Indians for self-reliance. - In 1905, the National Council of Education was formed, and later turned into Jadavpur Engineering College. - Chittaranjan Das appointed Aravinda Ghose as the first Principal of the college. ## A Political Leader - He joined the Indian National Congress, which at the time was largely a petitioning body, with the goal of achieving self-governance for India. - He used his skills as a lawyer and journalist to support the cause of self-governance for India. - In 1905, the Government of Bengal decided to partition Bengal into two provinces. - Chittaranjan Das opposed the partition and contributed to a nationwide movement against it. - He took part in the movement of the "Swadeshi Mandali" which encouraged the use of Indian products to support the local economy. - He organized the Bengal Provincial Conference in 1906, at Barisal. - He drafted its resolution advocating the policy of self-reliance. - He was very critical of the harsh response from the police when the conference was disrupted. - He worked to encourage Swadeshi and fight against the oppressive policies of the government. ## Supporting the Home Rule Movement - Chittaranjan Das threw his weight behind the Home Rule Movement started by Annie Besant which was opposed by the British government. - He defended Mrs. Besant who was arrested and detained by using his skills as a lawyer. - He was a strong critic of the Rowlatt Act of 1919 which was designed to stifle the Indian independence movement. - He joined Gandhiji's Satyagraha movement to protest this Act. ## The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre - He strongly condemned the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. - He expressed his grief over the death of innocent Indians who were shot at the massacre, despite no warning. - He was part of the independent committee led by Mahatma Gandhi to address the massacre. - He was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. - Both men played an important role in the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji. - He was elected as President of the Congress Party. - He initiated a campaign of boycotts against the British Raj. - He disagreed with the decision to boycott the legislative councils, believing that the Congress should fight the government from within the system. - This led to the formation of the Swaraj Party. ## The Swaraj Party - He was a founding member of the Swaraj party, along with Motilal Nehru, aimed at fighting for national independence through a parliamentary approach. - He was elected the leader of the Swaraj Party and became the Mayor of Calcutta in 1924. - He was offered the position as the Chief Minister of Bengal but declined. - The Swaraj party under his leadership went on to become a powerful opposition party. ## The Calcutta Municipal Corporation - He became an important part of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation which governed the region. - He designed a program for improvement across the city. - This program aimed to offer services to the poorest and most vulnerable in the community, such as free education, medical care, housing and sanitation. - He dedicated his ancestral home to the people of India, and helped to establish a trust with the help of Mahatma Gandhi to convert it into a hospital for women. The hospital is known as Chittaranjan Seva Sadan. ## Last Days - He returned from the Belgaum Congress session in 1925, where he was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. - He criticized the oppressive Bengal Ordinance which was passed by the government. - He was arrested and later released on medical grounds to fight against the ordinance. - He rallied the people of Calcutta against this oppressive law. - His health deteriorated, and he passed away on June 16, 1925 in Darjeeling. ## Legacy - Chittaranjan Das was known as "Deshbandhu," meaning "friend of the nation." - He was a leader who was loved and respected for his strong beliefs, honesty, and courage. - He is remembered as a true patriot who dedicated his life to fighting for India's freedom. - His work and his legacy continue to inspire millions in India and across the world.